Investments registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) in the first two months of the year posted 74.6 percent to P20.036 billion from P11.472 billion in the same January-February period last year.

PEZA director-general Lilia B. De Lima noted of the sustained growth in investments inflow in February to come up with the 74.6 percent growth in the first two months of which P13.572 billion were registered in January and P6.464 billion in February.

The investments represent the project cost of 77 projects approved in the first two months, a little bit higher than the 73 projects registered in the same period last year.

De Lima said that majority of these investments are semiconductors and electronics investments. A number of the project approvals are expansions of existing PEZA locators.

Two huge tourism economic zones also formed part of the approval in the January-February period this year.

These projects are expected to export $1.597 billion once they become fully operational or 163.5 percent higher than the $606 million projected exports generation of the 73 projects registered in the same period last year.

In terms of employment, De Lima said the approved projects are expected to generate 15,830 job opportunities or 47.5 percent from 10,732 jobs created in the same period last year.

For 2010, PEZA is eyeing for a 15 increase in investments to P200 billion from P175.365 billion last year.

De Lima said that electronics should continue to drive the growth in new investments this year.